Unitary saddle-type base mount for attaching channel section to cylindrical article

ABSTRACT

A mounting device (2) for securing a sign to a post (46) is disclosed comprising: (a) a saddle portion having a pair of opposite side members (4) of similar form and spaced apart, the side members being adapted to seat against a post (46); (b) a base element (6) joining and spacing apart the side members (4), the base element (6) having a narrower neck portion (7) extending away from the post and connected to an enlarged abutment portion (3), the neck portion (7) being adapted to allow the abutment portion (3) to pass slideably into a channel (32) attached to the sign, the channel having a mouth with inturned lips to retain the abutment portion (3) in the channel; and (c) a pair of attachment members (8) held at opposite ends of the saddle portion and connectable to the post by strapping passed around the post, wherein the attachment members (8) have stem portions (25) connected to the abutment portion. Preferably, the mounting device (2) is made from a single component, e.g. folded from a sheet metal blank. Optionally, it is provided with teeth (50) or other means to enhance the fit between the device (2) and the channel (32).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to mounting devices, and more particularlyto mounting devices for use in securing an object, such as a sign, to apost.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In an earlier patent, GB 1533412, a mounting device is disclosedcomprising a saddle having a pair of opposite side members having shapedportions to seat against a post and a pair of separate attachmentmembers loosely carried at opposite ends of the saddle between the twoside members. Each attachment member is provided with a stem portionhaving enlarged ends and projecting beyond the saddle in a directionremote from the shaped portions of the side members, and a slottedportion. The rear of the object to be secured to the post is providedwith a channel having a mouth with inturned lips.

In use, the object is attached to the post by engaging the enlarged endsof the attachment members with the inturned lips of the channel andpassing strapping through the slots in their body portions. Tighteningthe strapping around the post draws the saddle against it and forces theenlarged ends of the attachment members to tightly grip the lips of thechannel, thereby fixing the sign to the post.

Another patent, GB 2021390, discloses a similar mounting device forsecuring offset signs to posts in which the stem portions of theattachment members are joined together on a base, the base having abracket to which the edge of the offset sign can be secured.

However, both of the above mounting devices are composed of a pluralityof parts, with the result that they can be expensive to manufacture andassemble.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, the present invention concerns a unitary mounting device whichprovides a saddle portion having a post abutment face and a portion forenabling the device to be mounted to a narrow-mouthed channel, saidportion including a neck-portion extending away from the saddle portionremote from the post abutment face, and an enlarged head portion. Theunitary device may further include attachment means for engagingstrapping for securing the device a post in contact with the postabutment face. Preferably, the unitary device is formed by folding ablank of sheet metal.

The present invention also concerns modifications to the above mountingdevices to enhance the engagement between the narrow-mouthed channelattached to the object and the device.

In one preferred form, the present invention provides a mounting devicefor securing a sign to a post comprising:

(a) a saddle portion having a pair of opposite side members of similarform and spaced apart, the side members being adapted to seat against apost;

(b) a base element joining and spacing apart the side members, the baseelement having a narrower neck portion extending away from the post andconnected to an enlarged abutment portion, the neck portion beingadapted to allow the abutment portion to pass slideably into a channelattached to the sign, the channel having a mouth with inturned lips toretain the abutment portion in the channel; and,

(c) a pair of attachment members held at opposite ends of the saddleportion and connectable to the post by strapping passed around the post,wherein the attachment members have stem portions connected to theabutment portion.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a mounting device which ispreferably made as a single component. Conveniently, it is made byfolding a blank of sheet material, eg sheet stainless steel, into theshape described above. Alternatively, the mounting device could be castas a single component, eg in aluminium.

Preferably, the abutment portion extends along the length of themounting device, maximising the area of engagement with the lips of thechannel. This has the advantage of making it harder for vandals toremove the object by prising open the lips of the channel.

In use, the mounting device may optionally deform slightly when thestrapping is tightened to improve the fit with the post. In this type ofembodiment, the attachment members may be additionally provided withears extending from their sides and held approximately parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the device. The ears limit the inward movement ofthe attachment members, moving to abut the surface of the post when thedevice is tightened. Advantageously, the ears may be swaged tostrengthen them.

The mounting device and the channel may also be made of materials ofdifferent hardness so that one of the abutment portion and the inside ofthe lips of the channel will bite into the other, enhancing theengagement between the channel and the mounting device.

The engagement between the channel and the mounting device can also beenhanced by modifying the stem portions of the attachment members sothat they increase in width towards the abutment portion providing edgeswhich can bite into the lips of the channel when the strapping used toattach the mounting device to the post is tightened.

Alternatively or additionally, a face of the abutment portion can beprovided with teeth adapted to bite into inside of the lips of thechannel when the strapping is tightened around the post, therebyenhancing the engagement between the mounting device and the channel.

Preferably, teeth are provided towards the ends of the abutment portionwhere the attachment members are connected. However, in someembodiments, it may be useful to provide further teeth along the lengthof the abutment portion.

In use, it is found that when the mounting device is secured around apost by strapping, tightening the strapping causes the teeth to biteinto the lips of the channel until the abutment portion itself comesinto contact with the lips. This limits the extent to which the teethwill bite into the lips of the channel.

In a further aspect, the present invention discloses that it is possibleto provide an insert for increasing the width of the abutment portion sothat a mounting device can be adapted for use in channels havingdifferent width of mouth. Preferably, the insert takes the form of asubstantially flat I-shaped member, eg pressed from stainless steel, thenarrower central region of the I-shaped insert being adapted to passbetween the sides of the neck portion of the base element so that theenlarged end regions of the I-shaped insert can overlie the abutmentportion. The ends of the I-shaped member are laterally enlarged so thatthey overhang the abutment portion thereby increasing the width of theabutment portion of the base element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the present invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show plan views of two sheet metal blanks for forming intomounting devices which are first and second embodiments of the presentinvention, with dotted lines indicating fold lines;

FIGS. 3 and 4 show cross-sections through the embodiments of mountingdevices made from the blanks shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when each mountingdevice has engaged a channel attached to a sign;

FIG. 5 shows a side elevation of the second embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the second embodiment;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a variant of the first embodiment having swaged earsin position around a post;

FIG. 9 shows a side view of a mounting device according to thirdembodiment with teeth provided on the abutment portion;

FIG. 10 shows a top view of the device of FIG. 9 with phantom linesshowing the potential location of insert of FIGS. 13 and 14;

FIG. 11 shows an end view of the device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 shows a cross-section along line A--A in FIG. 10, including theinset of FIGS. 13 and 14;

FIG. 13 shows an insert suitable for adapting the width of the abutmentportion of the mounting device of FIGS. 9 and 10; and,

FIG. 14 shows a side view of the insert of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, blanks may suitably be cut from sheet metal,eg aluminium or stainless steel. The dotted lines indicate where theblanks may be folded to produce a mounting device 2 (in the case of theFIG. 1 blank, after L-shaped cuts 25 have been made). The blanks haveportions which form a pair of opposite side members 4, a base element 6,a neck 7 connecting the base element 6 to an abutment portion 3, and apair of attachment members 8.

In the blank of FIG. 1, the base element 6 is formed from twobase-forming panels 5 separated by panels forming the abutment portion3. These latter comprise a pair of neck-forming panels 22 joined by anabutment forming panel 23. The abutment-forming panel is, by virtue ofL-shaped cuts 25, laterally enlarged at its ends so as to provideabutment wings 12 (See FIG. 3) to engage under the lips 36 of the mouthof the channel 32. The attachment members 8 are joined no the ends ofthe abutment panel 23 by fold lines 30.

The side member forming panels 4 have shallow V-shaped edges, remotefrom the base element 6, defined by fold lines 9, dividing the panels 4from flanges 10 which provide an enlarged area for seating against asupporting post.

The blank of FIG. 2 is essentially similar, except that the abutmentpanel 23 is rectangular in outline and is separated from theneck-forming panels 22 by auxiliary abutment panels 21.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the mounting device 2 is made by folding about thevarious fold lines into configurations shown in cross-section in FIGS. 3and 4 respectively. The panels 22 (FIG. 1) or 21 (FIG. 2) form a neck 7which extends through the mouth of the channel 32 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).The mounting device 2 is retained in the channel 32 by the wings 12 ofthe abutment portion.

The side members 4, together with the base forming panels 5, provide asaddle for seating against the surface of a post. Flanges 10 are foldedinwards to a shallow V-shape, increasing the area of engagement betweenthe mounting device and the post.

The attachment members 8 are folded upwards along line 30 so they lie atopposite ends of the saddle.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the abutment portion wings 12extend only partially along the length of the mounting device. In FIGS.2 and 4, the mounting device has wings 12, formed from the superpositionof panels 22, 23 and which extend along the length of the mountingdevice and will therefore be stronger. The area of abutment between thewings 12 and the channel 32 will typically depend on the size of thesign and the materials composing the mounting device and channel.

FIG. 5 shows a side elevation of the device of FIGS. 2 and 4 withattachment members 8 held at the ends of the saddle portion. Theattachment members 8 are connected via stem portions 25 to the abutmentpanel 23. A plan view of this is shown in FIG. 6. This also shows theflanges 10 defining the V-shaped engagement surfaces of the saddleportion.

In use, the device may be attached to a post by passing strappingthrough slots 40 in the attachment members 8 and then around the post.The abutments can then be slid into the channel 32 attached to the rearof the sign. The neck 7 extends through the mouth of the channel. Themounting device is retained in the channel by the engagement of thewings 12 and the channel 32.

Tensioning the strap draws the attachment members 8 towards the post,thereby urging the wings 12 against the channel 32 and the V-shapedsaddle against the post. Fastening the strapping then secures the signto the post by friction.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the mountingdevice 2 has attachment members 8 provided with swaged ears 42projecting from their sides approximately parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the device. In this embodiment, the side portions 4 are cut backto allow the attachment members 8 to be drawn inwards when the strapping44 used to attach the device is tightened.

In FIG. 7, the mounting device is located around a post 46 prior totightening. The attachment members 8 are held adjacent to the ends ofthe saddle portion and strapping 44 passed through slots in theattachment members 8 and around the post.

When the strapping 44 is tightened (see FIG. 8), the attachment members8 are drawn inwards until the swaged ears 42 abut the surface of thepost 46. The V-shaped surface of the saddle portion and the abutmentportion can also slightly deform to improve the fit between the deviceand the post prior to the swaged ears coming into contact with the post46. However, the swaged ears 42 then help to prevent the devicedeforming further.

FIGS. 9 to 12 show a third embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIGS. 9 and 10, a mounting device 2 is generally as described in saidcopending application GB 9321748.7, and comprises a pair of oppositeside members 4, a base element 6 and a neck 7, connecting the baseelement 6 to an abutment portion 3. A pair of attachment members 8 areconnected to the ends of the abutment portion 3.

The side members 4 form a shallow V-shaped saddle for seating against apost. The mounting device 2 is attached to an object such as a sign bysliding the abutment portion 3 into a narrow mouthed channel havinginturned lips. The neck 7 is able to fit through the mouth of thechannel while the inturned lips retain the wider abutment portion 3. Themounting device 2 is secured to the post by passing strapping throughslots 40 provided in the attachment members 8, flexing the strappingaround the post and tightening and fastening it.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, the abutment portion 3 has a face 48 which in useabuts the inside of the lips of the channel. The face 48 is providedwith teeth 50 towards its corners, the teeth 50 being adapted to biteinto the channel lips when the strapping securing the mounting device 2is tightened. This improves the engagement between the mounting device 2and channel.

FIG. 11 shows an attachment member 8 generally similar to that of FIGS.9 and 10, having a stem portion 25 connecting it to the abutment portion(not shown). The stem portion 25 increases in width towards the abutmentportion 3 providing edges 52 which can cut into the lips of the channelwhen the strapping securing the mounting device is tightened.

As the stem portions 25 and teeth 50 are connected to the substantiallyflat abutment portion 3, they bite into the channel until the flatabutment portion 3 abuts the lips. This helps to prevent the stemportions 25 or teeth 50 cutting completely through the channel.

FIGS. 10 and 12 to 14 show an insert 54 for increasing the width of theabutment portion 3 so that the mounting device 2 can be adapted for usin channels having wider cross-section. The insert 54 is I-shaped havinga narrow central region 56 and enlarged region 58.

The insert 54 locates on top of the abutment portion 3 as shown by thephantom lines in FIGS. 2 and cross-section in FIG. 4 with the centralregion 56 passing between the sides of the neck 7 connecting the baseelement 6 to the abutment portion 3. The end regions of the insert 54are provided with small upturned tabs 60 to help centre it against theattachment members 8 and to provide edges which increase in widthtowards the abutment portion 3 in the same way as the edges 52 of FIG.11. These edges can similarly bite into the lips of a channel when thestrapping used to secure the device to a post is tightened. The insert54 may also additionally or alternatively be provided with teeth, asshown on the abutment portion of FIGS. 9 and 10, to enhance theengagement between the insert 54 and the channel when the mountingdevice 2 is secured to a post.

As shown in FIG. 9, the topmost edge of the saddle side members 4 arespaced above the topmost edge of the attachment members 8 by a distanceA and from the top of the slots 40 by a distance B. This has two effectswhen the saddle is used on a flat surface such as a rectangular post.Firstly, the provision of distance A allows the attachment members to bedrawn towards the post by the tension in the strap, thereby ensuring afirm bite by the radiused corners 52 or teeth 50 into the channel lips.Secondly, the provision of distance B increases the distance from theslot 40 to the surface of the post, thereby increasing the angle whichthe strap makes with the surface of the (flat) post, and hence lesstension is required in the strap to achieve a given pressure of thesaddle against the post.

I claim:
 1. A one-piece unitary mounting device which provides a saddleportion having a post-abutment face and a mounting portion for enablingthe device to be mounted to a narrow-mouthed channel, said mountingportion comprising an abutment portion having two plate portions forinsertion into the channel and for retention by the narrow mouth of saidchannel, the plate portions protruding outwardly beyond respectiveopposite ends of the saddle portion, a first, inner end of each plateportion being connected to the saddle portion by a neck portionextending away from the saddle portion remote from the post-abutmentface to pass through said channel mouth to the abutment portion, and theother, outer end of each plate portion being connected to a respectivestem portion for passing through the channel mouth and leading to arespective one of two enlarged attachment members for connection with astrap which is capable of being passed around a supporting post andtightened, and whereby the tightening of the strap around the supportingpost causes a displacement of the attachment members towards the post.2. A mounting device according to claim 1 wherein the attachment membersare slotted to allow the attachment members to be connected to thestrapping.
 3. A mounting device according to claim 1 wherein the narrowmouth of the channel has lips, and the mounting device and the channelare made of materials of different hardness so that one of the abutmentportion and the inside of the lips will bite in to the other to therebyenhance the engagement between the channel and the mounting device.
 4. Amounting device according to claim 1 wherein the narrow mouth of thechannel has lips, and the stem portions of the attachment membersincrease in width towards the abutment portion, thereby providing edgeswhich are adapted to bite into the lips of the channel when thestrapping used to attach the mounting device to the post is tightened.5. A mounting device according to claim 1 wherein a face of the abutmentportion is provided with teeth adapted to bite into the channel when thestrapping is tightened around the post, to thereby enhance theengagement between the mounting device and the channel.
 6. A mountingdevice according to claim 5 wherein the teeth are located towards theends of the abutment portion.
 7. A mounting device according to claim 1further comprising an insert for increasing the width of the abutmentportion, so that the mounting device can be adapted for use in channelsof different width.
 8. A mounting device according to claim 7 whereinthe neck portion is formed as a generally U-shaped channel and theinsert is I-shaped to provide enlarged end regions, wherein a narrowercentral region of the I-shaped insert is adapted to sit between theopposed sides of the U-shaped neck portion and the enlarged end regionsof the I-shaped insert are adapted to overlie opposite end regions ofthe abutment portion, thereby to laterally enlarge the end regions.
 9. Amounting device for securing a sign to a post comprising:(a) a saddleportion having a pair of spaced apart opposite side members, the sidemembers being adapted to seat against the post; (b) a base elementjoining and spacing apart the side members, the base element having anarrower neck portion extending away from the post and being connectedto an enlarged abutment portion, the neck portion being adapted to allowthe abutment portion to pass slidably into a channel attached to thesign, the channel having a mouth with inturned lips to retain theabutment portion in the channel, and, (c) a pair of attachment membersheld at opposite ends of the saddle portion and connectable to the postby strapping passed around the post, wherein the attachment members havestem portions connected to the abutment portion; said saddle portion,base element and attachment members being formed as a one-piece unitarypart.
 10. A mounting device according to claim 9 wherein the abutmentportion extends along the length of the mounting device therebymaximizing the area of engagement between the mounting device and thelips of the channel.
 11. A mounting device according to claim 9 whereinthe device is capable of deforming when the strapping is tightenedaround the post.
 12. A mounting device according to claim 9 wherein theattachment members have sides and are provided with ears extending fromthe sides of the attachment members and the attachment members are heldapproximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the device, the earslimiting inward movement of the attachment members by moving to abut asurface of the post when the strapping is tightened.
 13. A mountingdevice according to claim 12 wherein the ears are swaged to strengthenthe ears.
 14. A mounting device according to claim 9 wherein theattachment members are slotted to allow the attachment members to beconnected to the strapping.
 15. A mounting device according to claim 9wherein the mounting device and the channel are made of materials ofdifferent hardness so that one of the abutment portion and the inside ofthe lips of the channel will bite into the other to thereby enhance theengagement between the channel and the mounting device.
 16. A mountingdevice according to claim 9 wherein the stem portions of the attachmentmembers increase in width towards the abutment portion, therebyproviding edges which are adapted to bite into the lips of the channelwhen the strapping used to attach the mounting device to the post istightened.
 17. A mounting device according to claim 9 wherein a face ofthe abutment portion is provided with teeth adapted to bite into thechannel when the strapping is tightened around the post to therebyenhance the engagement between the mounting device and the channel. 18.A mounting device according to claim 17 wherein the teeth are locatedtowards the ends of the abutment portion.
 19. A mounting deviceaccording to claim 9 further comprising an insert for increasing thewidth of the abutment portion, so that the mounting device can beadapted for use in channels of different width.
 20. A mounting deviceaccording to claim 19 wherein the neck portion is formed as a generallyU-shaped channel to provide opposed sides of the channel and the insertis I-shaped to provide enlarged end regions, wherein a narrower centralregion of the I-shaped insert is adapted to sit between the opposedsides of the U-shaped neck portion and the enlarged end regions of theI-shaped insert are adapted to overlie opposite end regions of theabutment portion, thereby to laterally enlarge the end regions of theabutment portion.